James Iha on Smashing Pumpkins Reunion: ‘Never Say Never’

Things haven’t exactly been warm and fuzzy between onetime Smashing Pumpkins bandmates Billy Corgan and James Iha after the dissolution of the original lineup, but Iha says he’s never one to rule out anything where his old band is concerned.

Iha told the Chicago Sun Times that it’s been “eight or nine years” since he spoke with Corgan. During that period, there have been a few occasions for the singer to lambaste him publicly. But even with the animosity, Iha says he still gets questions about a potential reunion someday. To that constantly-asked question, he says, “Never say never, but as I said, we haven’t talked in a really long time. I haven’t heard the new [Pumpkins] record.”

While Corgan remains the only original member in the Pumpkins, these days Iha is putting the emphasis on his own music. Iha returned earlier this year with the new album ‘Look to the Sky,’ which was his first new release since his 1998 solo debut ‘Let It Come Down.’

Speaking about the lengthy delay between his solo records, the guitarist says, “After the Pumpkins broke up, I got into the other side of this, producing and writing and starting my studio, and the record label. I did a lot of other things for a while, and it wasn’t until three or four years ago that I started getting inspired to do my own thing again. When you’re not signed and don’t have a manager constantly asking for a record, I took my time.”

Iha has also been busy with numerous side projects. He says he expects a second Tinted Windows album to arrive someday, but none of the members have written material for it yet. The guitarist also lent his skills to a new Courtney Love song called ‘This Is War’ that he calls “a work in progress.”

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